Adam King’s Blog

So just got the text-message drop from my ears out in Michigan and seems like this first-off fest is hitting hard. There were rumors of Phish reunions that are just totally ridiculous to think those guys would reunite for the first time for a bunch of young kids in Michigan. At a party in the woods last night, this guy was trying to swear to me that they came out on Thursday, sang the National Anthem and played a half-hour Reba. How do these rumors start for Christ’s sake? Anyway, definitely gonna watch Phil tonight on iClips - it’s streaming free. Here’s what My bud wrote when I asked him how the weekend was going:

“Hands down best festival ever for the scene.” “Super laid back but best set up ever inside. It’s and eye’s best friend.” “Dave Matthews dropped the bomb. Never really took him serious.”

Now for this guy to say that last line, shit really must be popping off.

…is friggin’ so beautifully amazing. I tried to put up they’re new video, but it’s got butts and boobs so YouTube only put up one with stills. To see the actual video you have to go to www.sigurros.com, then go to Media and click on the “Gobbledigook” video. It’s some raw,dog Iclenad realness for sure. Now this first cut is not representative of the whole album - things are commonly a lot slower and even a little more pop-sensitive developed. Either way, it’s amazing and if you’re a fan of the band, first listens will instill body-quivers.

A lot of people say they hear a strong Animal Collective feel on the new track, and there’s definitely some truth to that. Especially since Avey from A.C. is married to Kristen from mu’m, who’ve done a few tours opening for Sigur Ros. The difference between them though is while A.C. have songs that are built out of the weird and eerie, the Iceland crew builds their tunes from straight love. I know it sounds cheezy but it’s true.

I swear to God. I woke up the other morning, and realized MTV actually shows music videos still! Who friggin’ knew? Let alone that, but they had the latest from No Age, the new SubPop band I’ve been meaning to check out. Real thick for just drums and guitar. Here’s “Eraser”

Sometimes when you’re down, a good tune can really bring you up.

Here’s the latest music video (?!?) from Rose Hill Drive. Pretty lo-budget, but good none the less. New album comes out in a few weeks and hiopefully will propel these guys to the larger venues they deserve. They’ve got a bunch of upcoming dates opening for Govt Mule and they should steal those rockers’ hearts away. Hands down, the most legitimate rock and roll out there these days - Spin said it best a few weeks ago when they said RHD sounded like three young guys who didn’t realize rock continued to evolve after 1974.

So I’m back and this year crushed me. In a good way. I literally had some of the most intense musical experiences of my life. No way I’ll go into all the details so tried to find some clips of my faves:

MGMT killed it Thursday night - this is crappy distant footage but you can tell how much they were raging the crowd.

My Morning Jacket played Friday night from Midnight til 4:30 A.M. in constant rain and it was one of the most amazing shows I’ve ever fucking seen. I thought their 2006 set was untoppable, but this… Breathtaking. “Phone Went West” killed, so did “One Big Holiday” with Kirt Hammett of Metallica. Zach Gilifiankis came out for the encore dressed as little orphan Annie to sing the Crue’s “Home Sweet Home.” I was drenched and in pure bliss.

I hadn’t yet seen Zappa Plays Zappa and their Saturday afteroon set almost brought me as many tears as MMJ. Not quite, but close. Here’s a quick crappy cut, I’m standing ten feet in front of these guys.

Been in love with Sigur Ros and feel like a complete idiot for their Saturday late night set being my first show. My knees buckeled - literally gave out on me - not from exhaustion, but from complete blissful awe. 12 thousand people all with either eyes closed or tears pouring down. Unfuckingreal - here’s an amazing clip:

Oh yeah, Phil’s acoustic set on Sunday was beautiful. Here’s the encore:

So Death Cab For Cutie has been slowly creeping into my life, and frankly they’re set on Sunday made me a life-long devout fan. Ben Gibbard isn’t the introverted lamenter on stage that he comes off as in pics and on albums. He’s a rocker, and they killed everything to perfection. “Transalanticism” has become my song as of late, and it got me for sure.

And oh yeah, Kanye West is a load of crap, and nearly ruined a perfect weekend. If you haven’t yet gone to the Roo, you just gotta. It’s got everything and anything you would ever need.

Been meaning for a year to put up this video by Dan Le Sac. Boy, do those Britannians love to do the spoken rap thing - but this song is just so badass. You know, music is music, and it’s different for every one and it’s meant to be loved and embraced and that’s what this shit is all about.  Mad props.

Sooo, the latest from Death Cab For Cutie. Here’s my story with this band - I was very turned off for a long time. The teenage-emo vibe seemed to ring pretty clear on most of their radio tracks. Nothing seemed to click for me when I heard it, however I didn’t really ever give them more than a surface survey. Then I saw the video for “I Will Follow You Into The Dark” and I was having one of those gloomier days and I simply thought it was pretty fucking cool. So I decided to give them a chance, and now I’m on board.

Their main problem is that on EVERY album they have a slew of great tracks, but then at least one or two uber-cheesey cuts - and for some reason, those songs that sounds like they came from the floor of a stall in the high-school girl’s bathroom, were the ones that were the radio cuts. And you know what, they probably made some money that way, and good for them. But they got some that suck, same goes for the latest, Narrow Stairs.

The single, “I Will Possess Your Heart” is in my opinion, by far the weakest cut on the album. The extended five minute intro doesn’t make it any less weak, and it falls into the same pattern as always for their singles. The middle of the album is where the nectar is - “Cath” “Talking Bird” “You Can Do Better Than Me” - they’re all really friggin’ catchy songs - I mean they’re definitely the kind of thing that most people would feel more comfortable playing really loud when they’re driving alone as opposed to hanging with friends, and I will admit that some of my new affinity for Death Cab feels like a guilty pleasure to me.

However, I love Built to Spill. Like worship the ground that Doug Marsche walks on kind of love. And there’s no question that so does Ben Gibbard of DCFC, and at times the paths do noticably intercross - so I guess I couldn’t help but come to aprreciate the band at some point. The new disc is their best I think, and they’re top sales spot on the PurePop list confirms that. As well as some weird controversy with the album not being available on Rhapsody that seems to have been cleared up and remedied. Worth a shot if you’re looking ot expand.

Here’s my favorite cut off the new album, “Your New Twin Sized Bed” - quality’s not the best, but it’s still good to hear a live cut of the song from when before everybody sings every single word.

Thank god! My Morning Jacket has finally releases some tracks off Evil Urges. The shit’s been leaked so much already, I’ve been waiting for the official cuts. They’ve got nothing to worry about, you know? When you make music that people can really believe in, you don’t have to worry about people getting it for free. Because no matter how people get your music, if it’s good, they’ll embrace it - make it their own, and then they’ll take a bullet for you. Just like me and Jim James - keep the shit coming brother, we are here to support you. And when the actual album comes out, I’ll buy 3 of em. Go here>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>www.guptamedia.com/players/mymorningjacket.

People call these guys the U.S. Radiohead not because they sound alike, but because they both make songs that are meant for life, and living. James says some great stuff in the little preview thing here, and means it - he’s a unifier.  Album out June 10th! I see them June 14th in Tennessee then the 20th in NYC!!

An infamous quotation that nobody holds the initial claim to. It is what one says to oneself though as they skirt back and forth across the line between music fan and music critic.

Project Logic at Metronome tonight!!! Gonna be hot, Marco on keys, Adam Deitch on drums - should be a boogie fest that only lame-os would try to explain in words.